Arboretum has Christmas camera crash course Dec. 29

Don’t just gift-warp a new camera as a gift this Christmas, give the photographer on your list a thorough camera class, too.

Gilbert artist Michael Madsen will offer a holiday special half-day workshop at Pinal County’s most ‘camera-ready’ location for $39 on Dec. 29, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Madsen has spent nearly three decades behind the lens and is expert in the settings and dials of digital cameras, from simple point-and-shoot models to complex DSLRs.

In his unique Christmas Camera Crash Course, Madsen begins with two hours in the classroom explaining various camera functions and the dials that control them; following an optional group lunch at a local restaurant, Michael leads his class outdoors to capture garden scenes around Boyce Thompson Arboretum.He’s a veteran instructor, too, offering classes from basic to advanced. Enrollment is $30 for Arboretum annual members, $39 for nonmembers.

“Anyone who has ever received a new camera as a Christmas gift will tell you it’s one of the best gifts ever,” said Madsen, “But a digital camera can also be frustrating and intimidating if you don’t understand how they work.

My class takes the mystery out of that, the indoor portion teaches participants what ISO, aperture, shutter speed and white balance are – and the outdoor shoot that follows gives you one-on-one time and demonstrates how to use those settings to get the photo you want.

This class is for anyone who wants to feel comfortable with their camera; who wants to take control of it and begin to master its full potential – and to take better pictures.”

Call 520-689-2723 during daytime business hours between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to preregister and reserve your space. See links to Madsen’s work and read about other camera classes at AG.Arizona.EDU/BTA.